Essentially, a gifted person is one who has the ability to achieve at a much higher level than their age-peers in a particular field or multiple fields. Thus to be mathematically gifted is to possess the ability to perform in mathematics at significantly higher levels than expected at their chronological age. However to define giftedness is not that simple, and there are many models for the concept of giftedness. Gifted students have different learning needs than most peers their age, and these needs must be met in order to provide them with a good education.
This wiki focuses on students who are mathematically gifted, but giftedness in other domains is briefly considered. It is important that as well as providing for gifted students to enhance their mathematical talent, we also work within the knowledge that they may have weaknesses in other areas which also need development.
Gifted students will cover the entire range of ethnicities, genders, and religions present in a school. Many of these cultures may have differing ideas about giftedness, and in New Zealand schools it is particularly important to also consider Mäori concepts of giftedness.
Gifted students may be physically or intellectually disabled (known as the twice exceptional), or may have learning difficulties in other areas. Gifted students may also be underachievers in our classroom, due to a number of factors. These 'hidden gifted' students may be difficult to identify, which is critical to consider when choosing identification methods.
In this wiki I use the terms gifted and talented to mean the same thing, but some models, such as that of Gagné, distinguish between these terms.
What does it mean to be gifted mathematically?
Essentially, a gifted person is one who has the ability to achieve at a much higher level than their age-peers in a particular field or multiple fields. Thus to be mathematically gifted is to possess the ability to perform in mathematics at significantly higher levels than expected at their chronological age. However to define giftedness is not that simple, and there are many models for the concept of giftedness. Gifted students have different learning needs than most peers their age, and these needs must be met in order to provide them with a good education.
This wiki focuses on students who are mathematically gifted, but giftedness in other domains is briefly considered. It is important that as well as providing for gifted students to enhance their mathematical talent, we also work within the knowledge that they may have weaknesses in other areas which also need development.
Gifted students will cover the entire range of ethnicities, genders, and religions present in a school. Many of these cultures may have differing ideas about giftedness, and in New Zealand schools it is particularly important to also consider Mäori concepts of giftedness.
Gifted students may be physically or intellectually disabled (known as the twice exceptional), or may have learning difficulties in other areas. Gifted students may also be underachievers in our classroom, due to a number of factors. These 'hidden gifted' students may be difficult to identify, which is critical to consider when choosing identification methods.
In this wiki I use the terms gifted and talented to mean the same thing, but some models, such as that of Gagné, distinguish between these terms.